Buhari Medical Vacation: Reasons why all visits to PMB in London should stop Now

Debating whether Buhari is alive or dead is pointless and utterly irresponsible. He is clearly alive and kicking; he is just holidaying in London and receiving high profile visitors and phone calls on behalf of Nigeria. Those who still believe that he is dead at this point are just ‘impossible’.

However, saying President Buhari is hale and Hearty but just resting in Abuja House in London is like pushing it too far. Nonetheless, whatever the case maybe, one should be more concerned about moving Aso Rock from Abuja to London than in debating whether or not Buhari is alive.

Since President Buhari would rather talk to Trump, welcome Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Bisi Akande and NASS leadership and get his media aides to talk big about it on social media rather than Address Nigerians from London the way he did during the campaigns then here are the reasons why Nigerians should condemn all those visiting him at the expense of the taxpayers.

He is hale and hearty

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed maintained the federal government’s stance that President Muhammadu Buhari is not sick, despite on indefinite medical vacation in London. “I can say without any hesitation that Mr. President is well, is hale and hearty. No question about that.” the minister said.

“The President is hale and hearty. I spoke to the President just this afternoon and we had a long conversation. He was interested in knowing about the budget process and how far we have gone and the meeting today with the private sector and the economic recovery growth plan and I informed him about the protest march and feedback about what people are saying about the economy. He is in good shape.” the acting President Yemi Osinbajo explained.

This is the position of his family members and aides. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Bisi Akande, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and many others who have maintained that President Buhari hale and healthy. So what is the need to visit a man that is just holidaying in London?

The vacation is indefinite

Initially, what supposed to be a 10-days vacation has been changed to an indefinite holiday. The Senate on confirmed receiving President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter to extend his 10-day vacation in the UK. So if we do not stop people especially the politicians from visiting him, then this might also continue for an indefinite period of time. And Abuja House might turn to Aso Rock in diaspora.

The number of visits to President Buhari in the UK and the calibre of people that have paid him visit should be enough to convince any doubting Thomas. It will be an act of callousness to still insist that Buhari is dead and that those pictures were fake or were taken in 2015 or years before as some have posited. The Pictures of the visits of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande was contested just like that of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the Governor of Ogun State which was as well contested. It is even more shocking that people also contested the picture that Senate President Bukola Saraki posted on his facebook page and twitter handle.

Hence, until Buhari is back in Aso Rock in Abuja, the number of visits and photographs would not change the narratives. Some group of people just said if he is as fit as they have been announcing him to be, then he should return to Aso Rock.

No Vacuum in the Presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari complied with the Constitution by notifying the National Assembly of the extension of his vacation for health reasons. And since he handed over to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who will continue to act as President, there was no vacuum, which the Constitution abhors.

“This means by extension that the Acting President continues in office, so there is no vacuum. What the Constitution wants to prevent is a situation where there is a vacuum. Somebody was acting for him and will continue to act.” Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) Yusuf Alli said.

Prof Yemi Osinbajo is doing fine

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has presided over the 4th FEC and almost all Ministers were in attendance. Acting president Yemi Osinbajo has presided over the four weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting inside the council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting is the 4th time Osinbajo took over since President Muhammadu Buhari departed the country on a 10-day vacation in the UK.

The council meeting has been said to have almost all ministers in attendance. And the Business of the government is going on without any hindrance.

Politicians, others have desert Aso Rock

The current vacation embarked upon by President Buhari has led to a drastic reduction in activities at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Saturday PUNCH reporter. It was reported that the most hit is the President’s wing of the government area in the Three Arms Zone district of the Federal Capital Territory. This seems to be a good thing but if the visit to London is not stopped now those Politicians would only change the destination of their usual visits from Aso Rock to Abuja House.